In the beginning of May, the Free Market Road Show (FMRS) took place in Stockholm. Jens Hedström, Head of Brussels Office, International Director, Swedish Enterprise, was one of the panellists together with PJ Anders Linder, CEO Axess Foundation, the British economist Richard Teather among others.
Hedström highlighted the importance of free trade, which he described as a part of the Swedish DNA. As a small and open economy Sweden is dependent on export and economic interaction with other countries. 1.4 million Swedes are dependent on foreign trade for their living.
Therefore all tendencies towards more protectionism globally is a big threat to the Swedish economy, Hedström pointed out. Brexit and a potential trade war between USA and China would cause big harm to the Swedish economy.
Nowadays the European Union is the clearest voice pro free trade globally which shows the importance of the European community.
- It is very important that politicians and policymakers take people´s worries about the future seriously. But at the same time it must be very clear that globalization and free trade is the solution to many problems. It is not a race to the bottom, but a race to the top, Hedström underlined.
The free market has been very successful in creating wealth and fighting poverty in modern history, and it is very important that both enterprises and pro market-actors talk more about all the advantages with a free economy. It is necessary in order to create economic growth and welfare now and in the future. Free Market Road Show brings together business people, scholars and students, opinion leaders, policy experts, elected officials, diplomats and other interested parties from across Europe to discuss core European values. FMRS is arranged by The Austrian Economics Center (AEC), in cooperation with think-tanks and universities across Europe and the Caucasus, and in association with international partners. In Sweden Svensk Tidskrift is the partner.
You can watch Jens Hedströms interview here
marknadsekonomiEU